Melbourne, Australia (AP) — Australian and New Zealand troops were monitoring three Chinese warships that were moving abnormally south along Australia's east coast in unknown missions, authorities said Thursday.
A week ago, the Australian government revealed that warships were traveling through Southeast Asia and the Coral Sea, approaching northeastern Australia.
Defense Minister Richard Mahles said Thursday that Chinese ships, Navy Frigate Hengyan, Cruiser Zuniyi and supply ship Wyshanf are “off the east coast of Australia.”
Defense officials did not respond to requests for comment on the Financial Times report that the task group for the People's Liberation Army, a Chinese military, was 150 nautical miles (278 kilometres) in eastern Sydney.
“This is definitely not unprecedented and a rare event,” Marless told SkyNews TV.
Royal Australian Navy sailors of HMAS Arunta continue to monitor the King of the Tasman Sea, Army Navy (PLA-N) Fujinosu supply vessel weishanhu and Eda-class frigate Henyan. /Australian Defense Force image
Marles said that the movement of Chinese ships through international waters in Australia's exclusive economic zone, an area beyond the sea of territory where the country has exclusive economic rights. He said he was monitoring the
“They have the right to be where they are. Australia also has the right to be wise and they are very closely monitoring what the task group's activities are,” Marless told reporters. .
“Whenever this mission ends in part of a Chinese task group, I am engaged in a full assessment of what the Chinese are trying to achieve regarding this mission,” he added.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Zi-Kun responded that he was unaware of the situation when asked about the location of the Chinese warship during a media briefing on Wednesday. The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Marless said Australia was traveling the coast of the South Pacific Island country on its way to Australia's exclusive economic zone, so Australia collaborated with its closest neighbor, Papua New Guinea, on its response.
Australia was also “working very closely” with New Zealand, which is separated from Australia's east coast by the Tasman Sea, he said.
New Zealand's Defense Minister also monitored Chinese ships in the sea and air “in cooperation with Australia,” Judith Collins said in a statement.
“The Chinese government has not been informed of why this task group was deployed in our region. They are not informed of what their future plans are,” she added. “We will continue to monitor these ships.”
Jennifer Parker, an expert at Australia's National Security College and a former Australian Navy officer, said Chinese warships have rarely travelled south along the country's eastern coast.
“This is part of a broader power projection from PLA-Navy and we should expect to see more of this in the Pacific and Indian Oceans,” Parker said.
China's deployment will come as the leader of the US India-Pacific Command, visiting Samuel Paparo this week.
Parker said the timing is likely to be a coincidence given that China's deployment is planned ahead of time and that the US has not released information about senior executive travel until near the visit.
“Without knowing exactly where the ship is heading, I think the point of this deployment is to show Australia that they have the ability to descend and operate in our ocean territory.” Parker said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference that he was not worried about reporting on Chinese warships off Sydney.
“Chinese naval vessels are in compliance with international law, but as we do, we are monitoring the situation, as you might expect, and observing what is happening.” said Albanese.
In 2019, three Chinese warships visited Sydney Port. However, their voyage was approved by the Australian government.
Australia's diplomatic and trade relations with China have improved in recent years, but the relationship between the two troops is dangerous.
Last week, Australia protested what was described as an unsafe interaction over the South China Sea, and Chinese fighters have been accused of releasing Flair, who put Australia's military surveillance planes at risk.
Guo, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, accused the Australian aircraft of “deliberately” invading airspace into the conflicted Paracel Islands, which China claims.
